durbin's a member of the senate's gang of 8, four democrats and four republicans who have collaborated on ways to reduce the nation's debt for 2 1/2 year. democratic senator mark warner is also in the gang and says democrats are willing to put entitlements like medicaid and medicare on the negotiating table. >> the math just doesn't work anymore not because the programs are bad but because thank goodness we're living a lot longer. >> reporter: republicans are also signalling they are more open to compromise. they say they will agree to raising tax revenue by limiting deductions for the wealthy. >> without compromising our principles we recognize that while democrats don't run this town neither do we. >> reporter: but the two sides remain far apart on the main sticking point. republicans oppose any increase in tax rates for the wealthy. the president refuses to sign any legislation extending the current tax rates to the top 2% of earners. the president has been in negotiations with house speaker john boehner and has said he is willing to put almost anything on the table except social se